stevelew47 Loc: Edmonds, WA

A good not too expensive durable lens is the 50 1.4. Costs around $350 but it is fast and sharp. The 1.8 takes similar pictures but it is plastic. It costs around $100 and if you are low on cash then the 50mm 1.8 is a good and fast lens. My go to lens is the 24-70 2.8 for most of my stuff. It's fast enough and if you need to bump the ISO by a stop or two, the lens is way sharp and fast.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Please, to help you we really do need more information! Camera, budget, and what you want to be able to photograph would be very helpful!

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

Low light? I like the Canon 50mm f/1.8 - sharp as a tack and accurate. Very good in low light. Most of my portrait work is under in home window light.

A general good walk around lens is the Canon 18-200. If you own Nikon then Nikkor has the same available.

amayberry21 Loc: Born in Chicago//Living in Houston

Thanks Everyone! I have the EF 50 mm f/1.8 so im guessing by the responses it is actually really good. (Thank god for that!) I know most of you dont think bundles (camera, lenses, and accessories) are not good but honestly I think they are great to get some of the good items with the whole package. I dont want to spend no more then $700 for a lens, but will do so if its necessary. But thanks again for all the replies

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Canon has a 24-70 F4, on sale for $799 through tonight. Can order from B&H!

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

I like my 50mm f/1.4 for low light and walk around and my 24-120mm f/4 for walk around (full frame camera.)

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Did you get the T5i you mentioned on your profile?

If so then there are several good "walking around lens" available

Mine is the Canon 24-105 f4L, but Tamron offers several that go from 18mm or so to 250-300 mm. Sigma also has a couple of offerings, likewise Tokina. Check their ratings on DxO mark or google reviews.

The Tamrons tend to be the lightest if weight is a consideration.

phlash46 Loc: Westchester County, New York

What kind of camera? Budget?

Bill Emmett Loc: Bow, New Hampshire

I took a look at your profile, and see you may have gotten the Canon T5i which is really good starter camera. I would suggest to you a "walk-around" lens made by Tamron. It would be the Tamron 18-270mm VC zoom. It is only about $500.00 it will cover wide angle, and super zoom. You could also try KEH.com for used lenses, to keep the cost under control. That Tamron lens is a very capable lens, until you want to move on up to a more capable lens. Have a good time with your new camera.

B

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

The Tamron is a good lens and they actually make 4 lenses of this type with the newest being a 16-300. It gets pretty good ratings and is $629 from B&H or Walmart.

Sigma has 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC (OS)* MACRO HSM that has just been reduced $200 because a new lens in the catagory has just come out. It got very good reviews when it came out in 2012. It is now about $325-350. That would leave you half of your $700 limit towards another lens. An ultrawide or macro dependent on your interests.

amayberry21 Loc: Born in Chicago//Living in Houston

I have been away from the forum and need to change the info, i have the Canon 70D camera. Budget would be less then 1000, and 800-900 would be pushing it.

amayberry21 Loc: Born in Chicago//Living in Houston

Macro would be in interest. Im trying to build up my portfolio with practically everything. I just dont want to be singled to 1 specific type of photography. Thanks I will look into those lenses

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

My recommendation of the Sigma 17-70 art still stands ....

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Practically everything - that means more than one lens.

A superzoom, ~18-200+mm can be very convienient and fine for hand holding in good light levels, or if you can shoot long exposures. However it will be much to slow (optically) for shooting hand held in low light and possibly to slow (mechanically) to aquire and track fast moving objects.
I do own a Tamron 18-250 and it is an OK lens (not great) and I mostly use it when I have to travel real light, in he daytime, and I want to have a lot of versatility over a reasonable focal length range, in a relatively small package.

You may want to think more than one lens (you do not have to buy them all at once). From personal experience if you buy better lenses stright up (I didn't always) you will save money in the long run.

In good light or shooting long exposures an F4 will be OK
For an ultrawide I use a Tokina 12-24 F4 - It is an OK lens however nowdays there are better choices available.
For a mid range tele I use a Canon 70-200 F4 L (it is a great lens)
For a long tele (birds and motor racing) I have used a Canon 100-400 f4.5-f5.6 IS L (it is a a great lens), but nowdays use a Sigma 150-500 which is just an OK lens.

If you want to shoot hand held in relatively low light think fast lenses, at least f2.8. Fast zooms can get very expensive very quicky. I do own Tamron 17-50, however it is a great lens as it does have difficulty in aquiring focus in low light.
See my previous reply in this thread for some other suggestions.

russraman Loc: New York City

Amen!